Rufus Wainright

Rufus Wainright (Dreamworks)

rufus is the 24-year-old son of estranged folk singer-songwriters Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle. On the evidence of his eponymous debut, however, he appears to have inherited little of the comic-satirical tendencies of his father, or the eclectic lyrical charm of his mother, and her sister Anna.

Instead the Montreal-based classically-trained pianist has chosen the role of baroque cabaret stylist. The result – kind of Nick Cave meets Ron Sexsmith on the set of Blue Angel – isn’t as heavy going as it might sound, thanks partly to contributions from some session heavyweights, including drummer-to-the-stars Jim Keltner, and Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench. There’s also vocal assistance from Rufus’ sister Martha, Jon Brion (Fiona Apple) and Pierre Marchand (Sarah McLachlan) share production duties, while sometime Brian Wilson collaborator Van Dyke Parks contributes dramatic string arrangements on several tracks.

With quirky time signatures, unexpected instrumental breaks and Wainwright’s deadpan vocals, it takes a while to get into. But perseverance pays off and the initially subdued opener ‘Foolish Love’ develops into a full-blown showtune in the best Broadway tradition. ‘Tack’ piano and carnival trumpets on ‘Danny Boy’ (no, not that ‘Danny Boy’) help evoke an eerie, fairground atmosphere, while a cinematic orchestral sweep underpins the gorgeously melodic ‘Millbrook’.

Things pick up tempo-wise on ‘April Fools’, which combines the rhythmic approach of The Beatles’ ‘Good Day Sunshine’ with a soaring, heavenly chorus, making it one of the album’s highlights.

The weaker tracks, which include ‘Matinee Idol’ – purportedly a tribute to River Phoenix – and the overly operatic ‘Damned Ladies’ are, thankfully, in the minority and far outweighed by quality songs – the tortured love ballad ‘In My Arms’, the nostalgic ‘Sally Ann’ and the album’s epic closing track ‘Imaginary Love’ are all superb.

Probably the most deliberately off-centred record you’ll hear this year, and one of the finest.

Colm O’Hare